Residents in Bloomingdale have learned to fear the rain, though. Neighborhood association president Teri Janine Quinn says a typical summer rainstorm can lead to massive flooding on the street and to sewage backups in homes. It flooded most recently in early September on Rhode Island Avenue.

Some had feared a superstorm would lead to far worse damages. But the steady rain from Sandy all day Monday and into Tuesday apparently didn't come down fast enough to overwhelm the area's drain pipes.